CONTADOR HARRISON

Nick Xenophon is a man to watch

Posted on January 30, 2018 12:04 am

Nick Xenophon is a seasoned politician and in hindsight, it may appear that he has become the figurehead of South Australia politics. Nearly a few months after his upset in dual citizenship saga, the former senator has never been completely out of the spotlight.Nick Xenophon who turned 59 yesterday, is on track to win his seat in the South Australian Parliament according to a new poll.So it was no surprise that when news of the polls broke that South Australia twittersphere went crazy.The poll gave Nick Xenophon a formidable lead in his quest to win the north-eastern suburbs seat of Hartley, with 37 per cent of voters intending to vote SA Best leader. Social media has been accused of worsening political polarization throughout South Australia but forces of social media such as Facebook and Twitter will undoubtedly influence the South Australia election outcome.One would ask, how exactly does an advanced digital technology influence political dynamics in South Australia? And how is it manifested in the Nick Xenophon context?Social media provides a convenient platform for Nick Xenophon and his audiences to shape the face of political events in South Australia. Nick Xenophon is known to steer voters towards his political agenda before an election. Social media has enabled South Australia citizens to influence the election, which is unparalleled to the pre-internet period when Nick Xenophon first burst into political limelight in 1997. This is particularly true in the case of social media, which allows political news to be segregated based on its user’s behavior that reflects their political spectrums.